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Delmarva’s Poultry
Industry and
Environmental Protection
Bill Satterfield
Executive Director
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
It’s Not Necessarily Us!
Total Nutrient Sources
Source: EPA (September 2007)
Delmarva Peninsula
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Poultry and the Bay
The land area of the Delmarva Peninsula
counties with broiler chicken production
accounts for just 7.7% of the total
Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Data
Monitoring Nutrients
“Collectively, the Susquehanna, the
Potomac, and the James Rivers
contributed 95% of the annual Nitrogen
load and about 87% of the annual
Phosphorus load from the nine major
rivers draining to Chesapeake Bay....”
Source: USGS (November 1999)
Monitoring Nutrients
“The Choptank River is the largest river on
Maryland‟s Eastern Shore, but contributes
less than 1 percent of the streamflow, the
total nitrogen load, and the total
phosphorus load delivered annually from
the nontidal part of the Chesapeake Bay
Basin.”
Source: USGS (November 1999)
Bay Contribution by River
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Susquehanna Potom ac Jam es Rappahannock Appom attox Pam unkey Mattaponi Patuxent Choptank
Flow N P
Source: USGS (November 1999)
Maryland Agriculture
Maryland agriculture accounts for just 5% of
the land use in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed and contributes only 7.75% of
the total N load
Source: CBF Correspondence (June 2006)
Keep Things In Perspective
Maryland’s Contribution to Total Load Entering
Chesapeake Bay in 2004
Source: Maryland Department of Legislative Services (2007)
Pollution Control Summary
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program (April 2007)
Agricultural Goals –
Moving in the right direction!
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program (April 2007)
Urban/Suburban Goals –
Progress is not being made!
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program (April 2007)
The Problem with
Population Growth
“The rapid rate of population growth and
related residential and commercial
development has made this pollution
sector the only one in the Bay watershed
to still be growing, and thus „progress‟ is
negative.”
Source: EPA
Urban/Suburban Goals –
Progress is not being made!
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program (April 2007)
The Real Problem
“Increasing human populations and the
associated land-use changes continue to
be the primary factors causing water
quality and habitat degradation in the Bay
and its watershed.”
Source: USGS
Why Depend Upon
Agriculture?
“In part because they are so cost-effective,
the Bay Jurisdictions are relying on future
reductions from agricultural lands for more
than half of the remaining nutrient
reductions needed to meet restoration
goals”
EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program (April 2007)
Bay Watershed Population
19.8
20.0
18.7
17.4
18.0
16.6
15.7
16.0 15.0
14.5
13.5
14.0 12.6
11.7
12.0
9.6
10.0
8.1
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
1950 1960 19701980 1985 1990 19952000 2005 20102020 2030
Human Population in Millions
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program
Population Trends vs.
Poultry on Delmarva
18.0 700.0
Human Population in Bay Watershed
Chicken Population on Delmarva
16.0
600.0
14.0
500.0
12.0
(millions)
(millions)
10.0 400.0
8.0 300.0
6.0
200.0
4.0
100.0
2.0
0.0 0.0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Human Population Chicken Population on Delmarva
Population Trends vs.
Poultry in Maryland
18.0 700.0
Human Population in Bay Watershed
16.0
Chicken Population in Maryland
600.0
14.0
500.0
12.0
(millions)
(millions)
10.0 400.0
8.0 300.0
6.0
200.0
4.0
100.0
2.0
0.0 0.0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Human Population in Bay Watershed Chicken Population on Delmarva Chicken Population in Maryland
Agriculture vs. Development
Agricultural land contributes 20 to 25% less
nitrogen than developed land.
Bob Summers
Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment
(May 2007)
Farm Runoff Declining
“Among the major land use categories,
urban and suburban lands contribute, per
acre, the largest amount of nutrients to the
Bay when septic and wastewater
treatment plant discharges are factored in.
Runoff from farms is generally
declining….”
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program
Bay Journal, January 2007
Eastern Shore Contributions
to Chesapeake Bay N & P
10%
0%
-10% Non-Point Point N Non-Point Point P
N P
-20%
-30%
-40%
-50%
-60%
-70%
Percent change since 1985
Source: Bay Journal (January 2007)
Eastern Shore Improving
None of the other watersheds;
Susquehanna, Potomac, James, Western
Shore, Rappahannock, York, and
Patuxent, had as high a Nitrogen non-
point source decline and Phosphorous
non-point source decline as did Delmarva.
Source: Bay Journal (January 2007)
Development Growth
“From 1985 to 2005, EPA estimated loads
from developed land sources increased up
to 16% while loads from wastewater
disposal and agriculture decreased.”
Source: EPA (September 2007)
Development Growth
“New development is increasing nutrient and
sediment loads at rates faster than
restoration efforts are reducing them.”
Source: EPA (September 2007)
Development Growth
“Little progress has been reported in
reaching nutrient and sediment load
reduction goals from developed lands.”
Source: EPA (September 2007)
Development Growth
“…impervious surfaces in the Bay
watershed grew significantly, by 41%, in
the 1990s.”
Source: EPA (September 2007)
Poultry House Capacity
Delmarva poultry house capacity grew by
only 35% in the 1990s and is only slightly
higher now than in 1999.
Source: Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
Sewer Overflow
According to the Maryland Department of the
Environment website:
Combined sewer overflow = 166 million gallons
Sanitary sewer overflow = 24 million gallons
Bypasses = 17 million gallons
During the last 8 months 207 million gallons of
wastewater and human waste made its way into
Maryland waters!!!!
Restoration Progress
Source: EPA-Chesapeake Bay Program
So, what have we been
doing?
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Nutrient Management Plans
Eastern Shore chicken industry has more
comprehensive rules than most farmers in the Bay
watershed.
Thousands of Pennsylvania and Virginia farms are not
required to have nutrient management plans.
Only Eastern Shore counties are 100% compliant
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Improved Feed Conversion
More feed used by the birds and less excreted.
Birds make better use of the feed to produce meat.
What’s Not Added to
Chicken Feed...
No hormones are ever
added to commercial
chicken feed
It has been illegal to feed
hormones to chickens since
the 1950s!
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Improved Feed Conversion
More feed used by the birds and less excreted.
Birds make better use of the feed to produce meat.
7.6% improvement in feed conversion since 1998.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Fewer Nutrients Excreted
„Between 1959 and 2001, 75%
reduction in N and P excreted from
broiler chickens (grams of nutrients
per kg. of live weight broilers).‟
-Dr. R. Angel, University of Maryland (2007)
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Phytase
Allows birds to better use P already present in the diet so
less is excreted.
P levels in excreta has been reduced by approximately
30% in recent years.
Research continues on phytase in combination with
other products for further reductions.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Litter Transport
Poultry companies have voluntarily contributed more
than $2 million to this effort since 1999.
More than 252,000 tons of Maryland poultry litter have
been transported since 2000.
Delaware‟s program has moved more than 350,000 tons
since 2001.
Poultry Litter in Context
Poultry Litter Analysis
Nitrogen = ~4-5% of the litter
Phosphorus = ~2-3% of the litter
Organic Material in litter can improve nutrient and water-
holding capacity of light, sandy soils common on
Delmarva.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Perdue AgriRecycle
Perdue AgriRecycle accepts chicken manure from all
companies‟ growers without charge.
Much of this manure has been transported out of the
local watersheds as a pasteurized organic fertilizer.
Fertilizer has received certification by the National
Organic Standards Board.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Perdue AgriRecycle
Largest litter recycling
operation in the world
Since 2003, 195,800 tons
of litter removed from
Delmarva watersheds
8.1 million lbs. of N
4.5 million lbs. of P
6.7 million lbs. of K
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Perdue AgriRecycle
44,000 tons of finished
product sold in FY 2007
31,000 of these tons sold
outside of Chesapeake
Bay watershed states
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Alternative Uses of Manure
Coal mine reclamation
Burning to produce energy
Attorney General Gansler
“We have a site. We
have a plan.”
Baltimore Examiner
October 18, 2007
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Unsuccessful Manure Burning Efforts
Previous attempts have met with defeat:
Allen‟s processing plant in Hurlock, Maryland.
Allen‟s prohibited protein conversion plant at Linkwood, Maryland.
Tyson‟s effort on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Delaware‟s ban on large-scale manure burning units.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Vegetative Environmental Buffers
Voluntary, first of its kind project.
Joint funding by local poultry
companies, DPI, USDA/NRCS, and
NFWF.
Designed to improve air and water
quality, including the reduction of
ammonia emissions.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Cost-Share Programs
Poultry growers have been active users of federal and
state cost-share programs for environmental practices.
Industry personnel have worked with funding agencies to
design and publicize these programs.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Energy Efficiency
Proper maintenance and cleaning of equipment helps
reduce energy consumption.
Less energy consumption means less pollution.
The poultry industry continues to promote proper
equipment management.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Energy Efficiency
The University of Delaware has
undertaken solar power research
at an Allen‟s Hatchery, Inc. farm.
Growers are switching to lower
energy light bulbs.
Houses are constructed or
retrofitted with solid sidewalls and
that helps reduce propane use.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Company Assistance to Growers
On-farm environmental audits and technical assistance
on environmental stewardship.
Recent collaboration with NRCS to help identify and
address environmental weaknesses on farms.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Research Projects
DPI and local poultry companies spent over $326,000 for
research from 1998 to 2000.
In addition, poultry companies have funded their own
research projects independent of DPI.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Research Projects
University of Maryland
Eastern Shore (UMES) has
initiated a “chicken house of
the future” concept.
First full flock on an
innovative plastic floor will
be placed next year.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
In-House Litter Composting
Recycling and treating used litter through a “biological
heating” process.
Re-conditioned litter provides more flexibility on
cleanouts and reduces the need for new bedding
material.
One area company has already adopted this practice.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Preservation of Working Farms
Farmland remains thanks to the chicken industry.
The facts show that farmland generates fewer nutrients
per acre than developed land.
According to a recent 1,000 Friends of Maryland study,
the public is concerned about the rapid loss of farmland.
Delmarva Poultry Industry
Accomplishments
Industrial Strength Permits to Operate
Maryland law already requires nutrient management
planning and compliance under the Water Quality
Improvement Act of 1998.
What benefit is there from a duplicate program?
How can Maryland afford an additional program?
The Under Utilized Oyster
Thrives on algae.
A proven water cleanser.
Summary
Delmarva Peninsula poultry production is a minor
contributor to Bay nutrients.
Increase of human population in the Bay watershed and
development of farmland are offsetting progress in
achievement of goals.
The agricultural community, including the poultry
industry, has made significant strides in environmental
protection.
Summary
Research into innovative, efficient, and cost-effective
practices continues.
The poultry industry has proven and will continue to
demonstrate our commitment toward soil and water
stewardship.
However, poultry people are concerned that they will be
asked to make disproportionate sacrifices to help with
water quality improvements.
A Point of Agreement
“Population growth and related sprawl
development will have to be much
better controlled…”
Gerald Winegrad
Bay Journal (September 2007)
It’s Not Just Agriculture!
Poultry and agriculture have been very aggressive on
environmental issues in recent years.
If others in the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay
watershed had been as proactive on environmental
issue in recent years, things would not remain as
challenging as they are and we would not
need to be here today!
Thank You!
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
16686 County Seat Highway
Georgetown, Delaware 19947
(302) 856-9037
Arsenic
Less used now than in
previous years.
A study by the University
of Delaware indicates no
problems.
Antibiotics
Less used now than in previous years.
Used to keep birds healthy.
Endocrine Disruptors
A recent University of
Maryland study shows no
connection between litter
applied to land and sex
changes in fish.
